Flying-machine.



.I. M. HUFF.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION men FEB. 25. 1914.

Patented May15,191?.

Lmwmo 3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

El J 1% 1 mm? 1. M. HUFF.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25. I914.

Patented May15,1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- .ToHN'M. HUFF,

OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

FLYING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 15, 1917.

, T allwhom it mag concern:

Be-it known that I, JOHN M. Herr, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented new -and useful Improvements in Flying-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to flying machines of the aeroplane class and biplane type, and one of its objects is to provide a flying machine in which the supporting planes are set other than in a superposed relation, so as to secure greater stability and speed and to overcome objections present in machines in which the planes are disposed directly in superposed relation.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a flying machine in which a novel arrangement of the planes is employed in conjunction with a novel construction of frame, whereby the strength and durability ofthe machine as a whole is increased.

A still further object of the'invention is to provide a novel organization and arrangement of vertical rudders peller, in a machineof the type set forth,

whereby a more sensitive and reliable steering control is afforded, as well as a better lifting action.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts herein fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of a flying machine embodyingmy invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the machine.

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view illustrating more clearly the rudder mechanism and the controls therefor.

Figs. 5 and 6 are perspective views of the frame of the machine, showing more particularly the construction thereof. 7

Referring to the drawings,.1- designates in general the main frame of the machine, from whichextends a tail'f'rame 2, which includes bottom longi dinal landing skids or runners ,3 carrying suitably cushioned and traction pro- Wardly inclined bars 9 connecting the rear ends of the bars 7 with the rear uprights 6, a cross bar 10 connecting the upper ends of the rear uprights 6, diagonal struts or braces 11 connecting the bars 9 with the forward ends of the skids 3 and lower ends of the uprights 5, longitudinal bedrails 12 connecting the front and rear uprights at the sides of the frame, and transverse bed rails 13 connecting and bracing the uprights of each pair. Inv addition to these main parts of the frame work, suitable cross braces 14 and truss wires 15 may be employed wherever desired to give strength and durability to the frame construction.

The tail frame 2 is composed of an upper pair of longitudinal and rearwardly converging bars 16 and a lower pair of rearwardly extending converging bars 17, which bars extend respectively from the points of intersection of the bars 7 and 9 and the uprights 6 and bed rails 12, the rear ends of said tail frame bars 16 and 17 being suitably connected at their converging ends by one or more cross pieces 18, by which a frustopyramidal tail frame of rigidity is formed.

Supported by the rectangular head portion of the frame formed by the bars 7 and spars 8 is an upper front supporting plane 19, and supported by the rearward extensions 20 from the longitudinally extending bed rails 12 is a lower rear supporting plane 21, each of these planes comprising a suitable framework construction 22 having a covering 23 ofa fabric or other suitable material, the

great strength and frame of the planes being reinforced and braced from the main frame in any suitable or preferred manner. As shown, theplane 19 is arranged at an elevation above and in a vertical plane in advance of the lower plane 21, the planes being thus both staggered and arranged in following order. As

a result of this construction and arrange- -ment of the planes the machine is given advantage in that a greater lifting effect is obtained over. ordinary biplanes without an increase of drift, for the reason that both planes operate as lifting surfaces having substantially the same lifting efficiency,- whereas in ordinarybiplane structures the major portion of the lifting power rests in one of the superposed planes, the lifting power of the other plane being diminished on account of the superposed relationship. Furthermore, by disposing the planes at different horizontal levels and one in rear of the other, choking of the air in its travel, as is common between superposed surfaces, is avoided, and consequently the result is a machine which affords greater stability and lifting power, proportionate to its size, than is possible with biplanes of the type heretofore employed. In practice the rear plane is preferably made somewhat shorter than the front plane, although otherwise the two planes may have the same dimensions.

The bars or rails 12 and cross bars 10 and 13 form a foundation to support a bed or platform carrying the motor 24:, the aviators seat 25 and the controlling devices employed. The motor 24: is placed well forward upon the bed or platform and has its shaft 26 projecting outward at the front of the machine and carrying a tractor propeller 27. This propeller is so arranged that the draft resulting from its action on the air flows rearwardly on a line between the planes and across theupper surface of the lower plane, thus providing for the free escape of the air from the propeller, as well as the air acted upon by the upper plane, while enabling certain other advantages to be obtained, ashereinafter' specified. The aviators seat 25 is supported upon the bed or platform at a point above or adjacent to the 'rear cross bar 10, the arrangement being such that the weight of the aviator and passenger, if any, will act as a counterpoise to the weight of the motor which, supplemented by the lifting action of. the propeller, will maintain the established relationship between the normal centers of gravity and pressure in the normal operation of the machine.

Supported by the cross'piece at the rear of the tail frame 2 is a combined tail plane and elevator or horizontal rudder 28, which is hinged or pivoted to swing vertically on a horizontal transverse axis. This rudder is provided with upper and lower crank arms 29 to which are attached wires or cables' 30 extending forwardly to a pivoted control lever 31, said cables being attached to the lever above and below its pivotal connection, whereby through fore-and-aft movements of the lever the rudder may be adjusted for ascensional, descensional and longitudinal stabilizing movements in an obvious manner. The lever carries a spring actuated dog or pawl 32 to interlock with a rack 33, whereby the rudder may be held fixed in adjusted position. To steer the ma-. chine laterally in either direction I provide connected by links 35 with the longitudinal and rearwardly extending arm of .a T-

shaped motion transmitting lever 37, which.

is pivotally mounted upon the upper surface of the rear plane. The laterally extending arms 38 of this lever have attached thereto the rear ends of cables or wires 39 which are connected at their forward ends with the oppositely extending arms of a centrally pivoted foot lever 40 arranged in juxtaposition to the aviators seat, whereby the rudders may be conveniently controlled and operated. It will be observed that the rudders 34 arranged as described-on opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the machine and in the direct line of the propeller draft, act additionally as stability vanes to prevent lateral skidding, and more efliciently as rudder surfaces, on account of the resistance and density of the air on which they actwhen adjusted for steering and stabilizing motions.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, the construction and mode of operation of my improved flying machine will be readily understood, and it will be seen that the invention pro which possesses superior lifting and balancing qualities over biplanes of the structures heretofore inuse, and which in addition is adapted to be more efliciently steered and controlled. It will also be seen that greater speed may be obtained for the reason that the drift or head resistance is diminished, on account of the fact that the air is allowed to have free flow between the surfaces of the planes.- Other advantages of my invention will be apparent from the foregoing description.

I claim:

In a flying machine, the combination of a main frame, a tail frame projecting therefrom, an upper main supporting plane mounted upon the upper forward portion of the main frame in advance of the mean centers of gravity and pressure of the machine, a lower 'main supporting plane mounted upon the base of the tail frame at neath the upper front supporting plane and mainly in advance. of the centers of gravity and pressure of said plane, a tractor propeller driven by said motor, and an aviators seat mounted above the lower rear supporting plane at a point in advance of the centers of gravity and pressure of said plane and between such centers of gravity and pressure and themean centers of gravity and pressure of the machine the said tail frame being of skeleton form and forming an inclosurefor the aviators seat and extending therefrom rearwardly over and beyond the lower rear supporting plane, a horizontal rudder. at the rear of the tail the centers of gravity and pressure thereof 0 and on opposite sides of the tail frame, said rudders being connected for movement in unison, and means for adjusting the respective rudders.

In testimonywhereof I aflix my signature 25 in presence of two witnesses.

' JOHN M. HUlEF. Witnesses:

H. M. Hm, C. J. Hum. 

